A Christmas Carol
Adaptation & Lyrics by Sean Murray
Original Score by Billy Thompson
Directed by Sean Murray
Musical Direction by Patrick Marion
Low-priced Previews Nov 28 - Dec 1, 2018
Cygnet’s holiday smash hit is back for its fifth season! Bring the family back to enjoy the holiday classic adapted from Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of hope and redemption. This re-imagined, fully staged production features original new music, creative stagecraft and puppetry, and live sound effects. Step into a Victorian Christmas card for a unique storytelling experience that is sure to delight the entire family!
“It’s not Christmas without ‘A Christmas Carol’ and this is the best one around.’ –SDGLN.com
Cast
Megan CarmitchelMegan Carmitchel
Christmas Past, Belle, Egbert Cratchit, Martha Cratchit, and other rolesMegan is thrilled to be spending the holidays back at Cygnet! She was last seen here as Petra in A Little Night Music. Other recent credits include Lamb’s Players Theatre: Persuasion, Big Fish, OZ (world premiere), You Can’t Take it With You, Quilters, and Fiddler on the Roof. The Old Globe: The Last Goodbye (world premiere) and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. La Jolla Playhouse:Weatherman (reading). San Diego Repertory Theatre: The Who’s Tommy. Diversionary Theatre: A New Brain and Pippin. Welk Resort Theatre: South Pacific and Stepping Out. Megan has also music directed several shows at LEGOLAND, CA. She attended San Francisco State University where she studied vocal performance and theatre.
Charles Evans, Jr.Charles Evans, Jr.
Young Scrooge, Grocer, Peter Cratchit, Young Man, Business Man, CarolerCharles is very pleased to return for his 5th year of A Christmas Carol! Most recently Charles was part of the hit musical Once at Lamb’s Players Theatre. Charles is a Resident Artist with Cygnet Theatre (The Vortex, Hay Fever, Dogfight, My Fair Lady, Spring Awakening). Other San Diego credits include work with La Jolla Playhouse, Lamb’s Players Theatre, ion Theatre, New Village Arts, and San Diego Repertory Theatre. He has also spent 5 years as a resident actor with the Okoboji Summer Theatre. Charles is a BFA graduate of Stephens College for Women and a proud member of Actors Equity. Many thanks to his beautiful wife Caitie Grady for her support!
Melissa FernandesMelissa Fernandes
Mrs. Cratchit, Mrs. Dilbur, other rolesCygnet (Resident Artist): On The 20th Century, Gypsy, The Whale, Assassins, Little Shop of Horrors (nominee, San Diego Critics Circle ), Cabaret (nominee, SDCC), A Little Night Music, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. San Diego Theatre (select): ion Theatre: Sunday in the Park with George(nominee, SDCC); New Village Arts: Avenue Q, God of Carnage, Big River, Same Time, Next Year, Into the Woods (nominee, SDCC), The Seven Year Itch, The Full Monty. Moonlight Theatre: Sondheim on Sondheim (nominee, SDCC). Moxie Theatre: Eternally Bad, Mud Blue Sky. Diversionary: Falsettos, The Rocky Horror Show. North Coast Rep: Dancing at Lughnasa. Regional: Little Shop of Horrors (Sierra Rep); Harmony, The Car Plays (La Jolla Playhouse) Education: MFA- Musical Theatre, SDSU. San Diego Critics Circle, Female Actor of the Year, 2016. Upcoming: Smokey Joe’s Cafe- New Village Arts.
Megan Carmitchel
Megan is thrilled to be spending the holidays back at Cygnet! She was last seen here as Petra in A Little Night Music. Other recent credits include Lamb’s Players Theatre: Persuasion, Big Fish, OZ (world premiere), You Can’t Take it With You, Quilters, and Fiddler on the Roof. The Old Globe: The Last Goodbye (world premiere) and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. La Jolla Playhouse:Weatherman (reading). San Diego Repertory Theatre: The Who’s Tommy. Diversionary Theatre: A New Brain and Pippin. Welk Resort Theatre: South Pacific and Stepping Out. Megan has also music directed several shows at LEGOLAND, CA. She attended San Francisco State University where she studied vocal performance and theatre.
Charles Evans, Jr.
Charles is very pleased to return for his 5th year of A Christmas Carol! Most recently Charles was part of the hit musical Once at Lamb’s Players Theatre. Charles is a Resident Artist with Cygnet Theatre (The Vortex, Hay Fever, Dogfight, My Fair Lady, Spring Awakening). Other San Diego credits include work with La Jolla Playhouse, Lamb’s Players Theatre, ion Theatre, New Village Arts, and San Diego Repertory Theatre. He has also spent 5 years as a resident actor with the Okoboji Summer Theatre. Charles is a BFA graduate of Stephens College for Women and a proud member of Actors Equity. Many thanks to his beautiful wife Caitie Grady for her support!
Melissa Fernandes
Cygnet (Resident Artist): On The 20th Century, Gypsy, The Whale, Assassins, Little Shop of Horrors (nominee, San Diego Critics Circle ), Cabaret (nominee, SDCC), A Little Night Music, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. San Diego Theatre (select): ion Theatre: Sunday in the Park with George(nominee, SDCC); New Village Arts: Avenue Q, God of Carnage, Big River, Same Time, Next Year, Into the Woods (nominee, SDCC), The Seven Year Itch, The Full Monty. Moonlight Theatre: Sondheim on Sondheim (nominee, SDCC). Moxie Theatre: Eternally Bad, Mud Blue Sky. Diversionary: Falsettos, The Rocky Horror Show. North Coast Rep: Dancing at Lughnasa. Regional: Little Shop of Horrors (Sierra Rep); Harmony, The Car Plays (La Jolla Playhouse) Education: MFA- Musical Theatre, SDSU. San Diego Critics Circle, Female Actor of the Year, 2016. Upcoming: Smokey Joe’s Cafe- New Village Arts.
Melinda GilbMelinda Gilb
Mrs. Fezziwig, Belinda Cratchit and other rolesSingin’ in the Rain (Original Broadway cast); Back to Bacharach and David (Original Off-Broadway cast); Suds (Original cast and co-author); The Pirates of Penzance (1st National tour); Original Mama Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Suds and The Robber Bridegroom (Old Globe); Walter Cronkite is Dead, Violet, Miss Witherspoon, Always Patsy Cline (San Diego Rep), Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (Craig Noel Award-Best Actress); Hello Dolly, Miss, Annie, (Starlight Theatre); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Smell of The Kill, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (North Coast Rep); Animal Crackers, On the 20th Century, Assassins, A Christmas Carol, Dirty Blonde, The Receptionist (Cygnet Theatre); She-Rantulas From Outer Space in 3-D (Diversionary Theatre); The Melinda and Steve Show (with Steve Gunderson in New York, Los Angeles and San Diego). At On Stage Playhouse directed Always Patsy Cline. Directed Suds the Rocking 60’s Musical Soap Opera at the ArtisTree Music Theatre Festival in Vermont.
David McBeanDavid McBean
Marley, Christmas Present and other rolesDavid McBean is a Resident Artist at Cygnet Theater and a “Christmas Carol” regular. Other Cygnet credits include “Fully Committed” (SD Critic’s Circle Craig Noel Award), “Pageant”, “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Dirty Blonde”, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Book of Liz”, and “Burn This”. Other selected credits include: “Travels With My Aunt”, “Unnecessary Farce”, “Shipwrecked”, “Charley’s Aunt” “Pageant” at North Coast Rep, “10% Review”, “The Rocky Horror Show”, “Psycho Beach Party”, “The Boys in the Band”, “The Mystery of Irma Vepp”, “Bunbury”, “Twist” at Diversionary Theater, and “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” at the SD REP.
Patrick McBridePatrick McBride
Bob Cratchit, Fezziwig and other rolesPatrick is thrilled to be working again with Cygnet. Recent acting credits include Captain John Donovan in Hope (Talent to aMuse,) Borachio in Much Ado about Nothing (Intrepid,) Bishop How/ Ensemble in The Elephant Man (Backyard Renaissance/ O.T.C.,) and Bob Cratchit, Etc. in A Christmas Carol (Cygnet.) Favorite roles include Touchstone in As You Like It and Bullshot Crummund in Bullshot Crummund (PCPA Theaterfest,) Laurence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and James Joyce in Travesties.
Melinda Gilb
Singin’ in the Rain (Original Broadway cast); Back to Bacharach and David (Original Off-Broadway cast); Suds (Original cast and co-author); The Pirates of Penzance (1st National tour); Original Mama Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Suds and The Robber Bridegroom (Old Globe); Walter Cronkite is Dead, Violet, Miss Witherspoon, Always Patsy Cline (San Diego Rep), Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (Craig Noel Award-Best Actress); Hello Dolly, Miss, Annie, (Starlight Theatre); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Smell of The Kill, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (North Coast Rep); Animal Crackers, On the 20th Century, Assassins, A Christmas Carol, Dirty Blonde, The Receptionist (Cygnet Theatre); She-Rantulas From Outer Space in 3-D (Diversionary Theatre); The Melinda and Steve Show (with Steve Gunderson in New York, Los Angeles and San Diego). At On Stage Playhouse directed Always Patsy Cline. Directed Suds the Rocking 60’s Musical Soap Opera at the ArtisTree Music Theatre Festival in Vermont.
David McBean
David McBean is a Resident Artist at Cygnet Theater and a “Christmas Carol” regular. Other Cygnet credits include “Fully Committed” (SD Critic’s Circle Craig Noel Award), “Pageant”, “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Dirty Blonde”, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Book of Liz”, and “Burn This”. Other selected credits include: “Travels With My Aunt”, “Unnecessary Farce”, “Shipwrecked”, “Charley’s Aunt” “Pageant” at North Coast Rep, “10% Review”, “The Rocky Horror Show”, “Psycho Beach Party”, “The Boys in the Band”, “The Mystery of Irma Vepp”, “Bunbury”, “Twist” at Diversionary Theater, and “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” at the SD REP.
Patrick McBride
Patrick is thrilled to be working again with Cygnet. Recent acting credits include Captain John Donovan in Hope (Talent to aMuse,) Borachio in Much Ado about Nothing (Intrepid,) Bishop How/ Ensemble in The Elephant Man (Backyard Renaissance/ O.T.C.,) and Bob Cratchit, Etc. in A Christmas Carol (Cygnet.) Favorite roles include Touchstone in As You Like It and Bullshot Crummund in Bullshot Crummund (PCPA Theaterfest,) Laurence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and James Joyce in Travesties.
Tom StephensonTom Stephenson
Ebenezer ScroogeTom is a 40 year veteran of the stage. He trained in Great Britain at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, in Michigan. At Cygnet Theatre Company he has been seen in over 15 productions notably as Hector in The History Boys and Joe Ryan in When the Rain Stops Falling. He also performs with Intrepid Theatre Company where he was recently seen as the Colonel in Father Comes Home from the Wars. Tom was awarded Actor of the Year in 2014, by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle.
Tom Stephenson
Tom is a 40 year veteran of the stage. He trained in Great Britain at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, in Michigan. At Cygnet Theatre Company he has been seen in over 15 productions notably as Hector in The History Boys and Joe Ryan in When the Rain Stops Falling. He also performs with Intrepid Theatre Company where he was recently seen as the Colonel in Father Comes Home from the Wars. Tom was awarded Actor of the Year in 2014, by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle.
Creative Team
Katie Whalley Banville
Previously at Cygnet: Spamalot, A Christmas Carol (Choreographer), Spring Awakening (Asst. Choreographer), Gypsy (June / Asst. Choreographer), Company (April / Asst. Choreographer), My Fair Lady (Ensemble / Asst. Choreographer), Man of La Mancha, Parade, Cabaret. Regional choreography credits: San Diego Rep – Beachtown; Backyard Renaissance – Tarrytown (World Premiere), Gutenberg! The Musical!; San Diego State University – Company; Grossmont College – Lucky Stiff, Cinderella, 80 Days; The Old Globe –A Doll’s House (Movement Coordinator). MFA Musical Theatre, San Diego State University; BFA, Illinois Wesleyan University. www.katiebanville.com
Peter Herman
Cygnet Theatre: Costumes and Wig/Makeup Design for Shakespeare’s R&J, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Wigs/Makeup Design for HIR, Spamalot, The Last Wife, Shockheaded Peter, On the 20th Century, Bad Jews, Seven Guitars, King Hedley II, Gypsy, Stupid F**king Bird, The Rocky Horror Show, When the Rain Stops Falling, Hay Fever, The Vortex, Dogfight, My Fair Lady, Sons of the Prophet, Pageant, Fool for Love, True West, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple and Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Assassins, A Christmas Carol, Gem of the Ocean, Mistakes Were Made, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Parade, A Behanding in Spokane, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd. Elsewhere: Peter has designed hair and wigs for over 300 productions, including the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep, San Diego Opera and Disneyland. Peter currently teaches wig and makeup at SDSU.
Andy Hull
Cygnet Theatre: Stupid F***ing Bird, The Rocky Horror Show, A Christmas Carol, The Motherf***er with the Hat, Gem of the Ocean, The Glass Menagerie, Private Lives, Bed and Sofa, The History Boys. Elsewhere: Hello Dolly (Arrowrock Lyceum Theatre); Hay Fever (Black Hills Playhouse); Into the Woods, The Good Person of Szechwan, Desire Under the Elms (San Diego State University); Night of the Iguana, The Man Who Came to Dinner, A Piece of My Heart (Webster University). He has worked on such productions as Nocturnal Animals, Straight Outta Compton, Mad Men, and Orange is the New Black.
Matt Lescault-Wood
Matt Lescault-Wood is excited to be back at Cygnet. Previous credits include; Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, A Behanding In Spokane, Man of La Mancha, Assassins, Company, Spring Awakening, Pageant, True West, Fool For Love, Sons of the Prophet, My Fair Lady, Shockheaded Peter, Spamalot (Cygnet); Eurydice [2010 San Diego Critics Circle Nominee], Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Hickorydickory, ENRON, Eternally Bad, The Kid Thing, Bliss (Moxie); Evita, Roz and Ray, Hand To God; Black Pearl Sings, Beachtown (San Diego REP); Lizard Boy; The Moors, The Loneliest Girl In The World (Diversionary); Seascape, Stage Kiss, Lord of The Flies, Big River (New Village Arts); Henry V [2014 San Diego Critics Circle Nominee] (New Fortune); MixTape [2015] (Lambs). Matt has a Degree in Theatrical Design and Technology from SDSU.
Patrick Marion
Cygnet Theatre: Assassins, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret. San Diego Theatre: Lamb’s Players Theatre (Associate Artist): miXtape, The Music Man, An American Christmas (’09 through ’12), Pump Boys and Dinettes, Godspell, Boomers; San Diego Musical Theatre: Smokey Joe’s Cafe; Diversionary Theatre: Moscow (Award for Outstanding Musical Direction, StageSceneLA); American Rose Theatre: Spring Awakening; Francis Parker: Once on This Island, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Always, Patsy Cline; Coronado Playhouse: Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party; Ariel Performing Arts: Zanna, Don’t! A Musical Fairy Tale; Regional Theatre: Temecula Valley Players: Jesus Christ Superstar.
Kyle Montgomery
Kyle became involved with Cygnet Theatre while attending SDSU and after graduating with his BA in Design and Technology for Theatre he continues to freelance as a designer and assistant designer at: Cygnet Theatre, The Old Globe, Pacific Coast Entertainment, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND. Past design credits – The Legend of Georgia McBride, Animal Crackers, Equality CA Awards Dinner, Jack Hanna Weekend, A Christmas Carol, Company, Hair. Assistant LD – Seven Guitars, King Hedley II, They don’t talk Back, The Metromaniacs, My Fair Lady, and The Motherf***** with the Hat.
Sean Murray
Mr. Murray co-founded Cygnet Theatre in 2002 along with partner Bill Schmidt. Cygnet Theatre: Spamalot, A Little Night Music, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Animal Crackers, On the 20th Century,The Rocky Horror Show, Gypsy, The Vortex, Dogfight, My Fair Lady, Fool for Love, True West, Spring Awakening, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Assassins, WCYG presents A Christmas Carol, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Parade, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, The Tragedy of the Commons, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd, It’s a Wonderful Life, Noises Off, Bed and Sofa ‘09, The History Boys, A Christmas Carol, A Little Night Music (SD Critic’s Award, Best Director), The Receptionist, The Invention of Love, Bed and Sofa ‘04 (SD Critic’s Award, Best Director, Best Musical Revival), Las Meninas, Escanaba in da Moonlight (SD Critic’s Circle, Set Design), The Book of Liz, Pageant, Bug, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, St. Nicholas, The Matchmaker, Desire Under the Elms, Santaland Diaries, Firebugs, Fully Committed, Arcadia, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Little Foxes, My Fair Lady. Elsewhere: North Coast Rep: The Elephant Man (Patté Award, Direction), Man of La Mancha, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties; Diversionary: Never the Sinner, Love! Valour! Compassion!. Education: University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA). In 2000, Sean was named one of San Diego Magazine’s “50 People to Watch” and in 2005 he was named Producer of the Year by the San Diego Critic’s Circle.
Jeanne Reith
In her 25-year career as a Theatrical Costume Designer Jeanne has dressed over 350 productions. She has served as Resident Designer for theatres in Los Angeles, Glendale and Santa Barbara, and at Lambs Players Theatre Coronado. As a Resident Artist for Cygnet Theatre some of her designs include: Gypsy, The Little Foxes, A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady, Company, Man of La Mancha, Copenhagen. Costume designs awards she has received include: Craig Noel, Patte, LA Weekly, Backstage West, Dramalogue, and Critic Circle. Jeanne also teaches Fashion History, Draping, Patternmaking, and other fashion related classes at San Diego Mesa College and San Diego Continuing Education, West City.
Dean Remington
Dean is thrilled to return to the Cygnet having completed successful runs of Every Brilliant Thing, A Christmas Carol, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Shockheaded Peter, When the Rain Stops Falling, and Stupid F***ing Bird. National Tours include The Lion King and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. In the UK he was delighted to work with Cameron Mackintosh on his musical, Hey, Mr. Producer! Other highlights include the Annual Gala and the WoW Festival for La Jolla Playhouse, Outside Mullingar and the world premiere of Manifest Destinitis at San Diego Repertory Theatre, as well as international productions of Grease, 42nd Street, Anything Goes, A Chorus Line and Meet Me in St. Louis.
Billy Thompson
Billy has been a composer, arranger, musical director, orchestrator, accompanist, and performer for stage productions throughout the country, including Ars Nova in New York, The Walnut in Philadelphia, The Old Globe in San Diego, Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish, MT, and here at home with Cygnet. His first full length musical, Invasion! garnered the 2007 LA Weekly Theatre Awards for Best Original Score and Best Musical Direction. Since 2012, he has toured with it gets better, a musical performance and outreach campaign for bullying awareness and suicide prevention, with special emphasis toward the LGBTQ community. Billy holds a BM in Composition from USC and an MFA in Musical Theatre from SDSU. A Christmas Carol is his fifth collaboration with Cygnet Theatre, having previously directed music for Parade, Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and It’s A Wonderful Life.
Family Day in Partnership with San Diego Humane Society
Dec 2nd @ 11:00AM
Cygnet is holding its fourth annual pre-show Family Day on Sunday, Dec. 2nd before the matinee performance in partnership with San Diego Humane Society. Pet adoption event is from 11am-2pm and Family Day activities are scheduled from 1-2pm on our patio. Families will be able to enjoy cookie decorating, coloring station, special activity station with Geppetto's Toys, complimentary hot chocolate, and a visit from SANTA! more. Join us for the fun! This is a FREE event. Theatre ticket is NOT required to attend.
Theatre on Tap
- Dec 7th @ 7:00PMWine Night
- Dec 13th @ 6:30PMPet Adoption Event in Partnership with San Diego Humane Society
Dec 15th @ 12:00PM
Cygnet is excited to announce its partnership with San Diego Humane Society during the run of the show. Part of this partnership includes two pet adoption events that will take place on our patio before the matinee performances on Sunday, Dec. 2nd from 11am-2pm (during Cygnet Family Day) and Saturday, Dec. 15th from 12-3pm (during Las Posadas in Old Town). Theatre ticket is NOT required to attend this event.
Blood Drive in Partnership with San Diego Blood Bank
Dec 28th @ 1:30PM
Show us how much you care, San Diego! When you give blood, you're saving the lives of up to three people when our community needs it most. Is there a better gift this holiday season than the gift of life?
We are having a blood drive in partnership with San Diego Blood Bank before the performance of A Christmas Carol. Blood mobile will be parked right in front of Cygnet Theatre on Friday, December 28th from 1:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
All donors will receive a Limited Edition Holiday t-shirt, while supplies last and voucher good for one ticket to any show (expires 6/16/19).
Make your appointment today.
www.SanDiegoBloodBank.org/CYGN
Thank you for your generosity during the season of giving life!
November 2018